Closure Order Issued in Oxfordshire Town
Police have implemented a closure order in an undisclosed town in Oxfordshire. The measure was enacted to protect vulnerable individuals, though specific details regarding the location and reasons for the order were not made public.
- The specific location of the closure order is in the Wantage and Grove area. - Thames Valley Police obtained the order after a court hearing to safeguard a vulnerable resident who was being targeted. - Such orders are a tool used by police to address issues like anti-social behaviour, crime, and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, a practice known as "cuckooing" where criminals take over a person's home to use it as a base for illegal activities. - The legal process involves an initial 24-hour closure notice authorized by a police inspector, which provides time to apply to a Magistrates' Court for a full order. - If granted by the court, a full closure order typically lasts for three months, during which agencies and the police work with the occupant to implement long-term safety and wellbeing plans. - In late 2025, three other properties in Wantage were also issued closure orders to protect vulnerable residents and shield the community from constant disruption. - Similar orders have been recently implemented in other Oxfordshire locations, including Abingdon and Cowley in Oxford, in response to anti-social behaviour and drug-related activities. - A breach of a closure order is a criminal offense, and the police have the power to arrest anyone who is not named on the order and enters the premises.
